Prev | Current Page 388 | Next

Carew, Richard, 1555-1620

"The Survey of Cornwall And an epistle concerning the excellencies of the English tongue"

This fellow was taken vp by
Sir William, vnder a hedge, in the deepest of Winter, welneere
starued with cold, and hunger: hee was of stature meane, of
constitution leane, of face freckled, of composition, well
proportioned, of diet, naturally, spare, and cleanely inough; yet,
at his masters bidding, he would deuoure nettles, thistles, the pith
of Artichokes, raw, and liuing birds, and fishies, with their scales,
and feathers, burning coles and candles, and whatsoeuer else,
howsoeuer vnsauorie, if it might be swallowed: neither this a little,
but in such quantitie, as it often bred a second wonder, how his
belly, should containe so much: yet could no man, at any time,
discouer him doing of that, which necessitie of nature requireth.
Moreouer, he would take a hot yron out of the fire, with his bare
hand; neuer changed his apparell, but by constraint, and vsed to lie
in strawe, with his head downe, and his heeles vpwards. Spare he
was of speech, and, instead of halfe his words, vsed this terme Size,
as I will Size him, for strike him, hee is a good Size, for man, &c.


Pages:
376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400